New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday sharply criticised the Kerala Governor for delaying action on the report submitted by Justice (Retd.) Sudhanshu Dhulia regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellors at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.
A Bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan said the Governor, who acts as Chancellor of state universities, is expected to take a decision on the committee’s recommendations “without further delay” and cannot keep the matter pending indefinitely.
The observations came during the Court’s review of the status of Justice Dhulia’s report, which was tasked with examining the legality and propriety of the disputed VC appointments.
The Bench stressed that the matter requires timely resolution, particularly since prolonged uncertainty affects university functioning.
In September, the Attorney General informed the Court about an application filed by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, seeking the removal of the Chief Minister from the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for appointing regular Vice Chancellors to the two universities.
He pointed to a subsequent order in the West Bengal Governor matter, which restored the Governor’s authority as the appointing authority, and submitted that there was ambiguity in Kerala on who holds the final say in the VC selection process.
The Governor had also sought modification of the Supreme Court’s August 18 order governing the appointment process.
In that plea, he asked for the exclusion of the Chief Minister from the VC selection committee, inclusion of a UGC nominee, and retention of the Chancellor’s discretion to select from an alphabetical panel of shortlisted candidates.
He argued that the earlier Supreme Court reliance on State of West Bengal v. Sanat Kumar Ghosh was misplaced since Kerala’s statutes, unlike those in West Bengal, do not vest any role in the State Government or Chief Minister in VC appointments.
The Governor further cited Prof. Dr Sreejith v. Dr Rajasree (2023), where the Court held that UGC Regulations override conflicting state laws in matters of Vice Chancellor appointments.
On August 18, to end the stalemate between the State and the Governor, the Supreme Court appointed Justice Dhulia as Chairperson of the Search and Selection Committee.
The Court emphasised that “students should not suffer” due to administrative and political disagreements.
The committee was structured with five members, two nominees each from the Chancellor and the State, and the Chairperson. Justice Dhulia was given discretion to form a common committee or separate committees for the two universities.
Prior to this, on August 13, the Court had stated that it would itself constitute the Search Committee if the State and Chancellor continued to disagree.
The Kerala Governor’s petition also challenges a July 14, 2025, Kerala High Court judgment that upheld the State’s reliance on Section 13(7) to justify temporary VC appointments.
According to the Governor, such extensions violate UGC norms that do not recognise the concept of temporary Vice Chancellors.
On July 30, 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Governor to make temporary VC appointments within the six-month statutory limit, while cautioning both the Governor and the State to avoid politicising the issue and to prioritise students’ interests until regular appointments are finalised.
SC raps Kerala Governor for delay in VC appointment; seeks immediate action on Justice Dhulia’s report
